Grid assembling machine



Jan. 10, 1961 A. J. RANDOLPH GRID ASSEMBLING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1955 was INVENTOR 4 97/10? .1 FAA 0oz BY 2 g g Jan. 10, 1961 A. J. RANDOLPH 2,967,552

GRID ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1955 1o Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-3 INVENTOR.

J PAM/0am Jan. 10, 1961 RANDOLPH GRID ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1955 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY W 1%77 Jan. 10, 1961 A. J. RANDQLPH 2,967,552

GRID ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1955 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 R. zz/W1 Pin 00m BY grraevir Jan. 10, 1961 J. RANDOLPH 2,967,552

GRID ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 15 1955 10 Sheets$heet 5 I N V EN TOR. flan/0e J Pmvoam/r Jan. 10,1961 A. J. RANDOLPH GRID ASSEMBLING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 15, 1955 m, m m w.

Jan. 10, 1961 A. J. RANDOLPH 2,967,552

GRID ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1955 I 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG- 9 I A I 1 ll IN VEN TOR.

Jan. 10, 1961 A. J. RANDOLPH 2,967,552

GRID ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1956 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 cm-ll BY W m Jan. 10, W61

A. J. RANDOLPH GRID ASSEMBLING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Dec. 15, 1955 LII L. L ll a E l l 1 1m M w. H KN 1 5 W 0, 3 3 v. W. n d w A m T M/ m w m w F w fl m u M. 7. m w H H 7 %W 6 W P Jan. 10, 1961 A. J. RANDOLPH 2,967,552

GRID ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Dec, 15, 1955 10 Sheets-Shee t 1o j 25/ I}! l! 7" 2119 [if /9/- 214 INVENTOR. flew/w J EMMA w United States F 2,967,552 can) AssnMnuNG MACHINE Arthur J. Randolph, Santa Rosa, Calif., assignor to California Wood Products, Inc, Santa Rosa, Calili, a corporation of California Filed Dec. 15, 1955, Ser. No. 553,277

7 fllaims. (Cl. 1 44-2 This invention relates to a grid assembling machine. More particularly, it relates to a machine for assembling slats in the form of a rectangular grid with the slats arranged edgewise.

The machine of the present invention has particular application (although it has other applications) to the construction of grids for flush type doors in which there is an outer rectangular framework, an inner grid, and plywood sheets fixed to opposite sides of the frame and grid to provide a flush construction. This type of door has increased in popularity, particularly in tract construction, because it is economical to construct, yet it is very rugged and serviceable.

The inner grid of this type of door consists of a series of vertical slats running lengthwise of the door and a series of horizontal slats running crosswise'of the door. These slats are notched at uniformly spaced intervals and are meshed together to provide a grid which imparts rigidity to 'the frame and which presents two surfaces to which the plywood facings can be bonded by adhesive.

In the construction of this type of grid considerable difliculty has been experienced heretofore owing to the time-consuming and expensive manual labor required to assemble the notched slats in proper position, to mesh them together and to square the grid.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for performing this operation automatically.

It is a particular object of'the invention to provide a machine which is capable of assembling a first set of notched slats in parallelism, assembling a second set of notched slats in parallelism but transversely to the first set, and then uniting the two sets in meshing relationship to provide a grid structure of the character described hereinabove; such machine accomplishing these operations automatically.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description and appended claims.

One form of the invention is illustrated by Way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rfinished door but with one plywood facing removed to'reveal the interior construction including the outer framework and the inner grid, the latter being assembled by the machine of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the grids illustrating the manner in which the assembled slats are meshed together.

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the machineof the present invention.

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 "of 'Figure 3.

:Figure 5 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 4. v

Figure 7 is a view in end elevation of the machine as seen from the left of Figure 3.

2,967,552 Patented Jan. 10, 1961 "Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a staggered section taken along theline 9-9 of Figure 3.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of Figure 8.

Figure ll is a view in side elevation, of the stacking mechanism employed to stack the assembled grids.

Figure 12 is a top plan view of the grid ejector.

Figure 13 is a section taken along the line 13-13 of Figure 12. g

Figure 14 is a section taken along the line 14-14 of Figure 12.

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic view'of the control circuit of the machine of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, an assembled door is shown at 10 in Figure l with one of its plywood faces removed to show the interior construction. The door 10 comprises a rectangular framework 11 including longitudinal side members 12 and transverse end members 13. Within the frame 11 there are provided upper and lower gn'ds 14 which will be described in detail with reference to Figure 2. The door 10 also includes a cross member or brace 15 and blocks 16. The blocks 16 are intended to receive locks and door handles. v p.

The grids 14 are cutaway and recessed at 17 to receive the blocks 16. A plywood facing is shown at 18 which is glued to one face of the framework 11 and grid 14. The completed door will, of course, have both faces covered with plywood facings similar to that show at 18.

Referring now more particularly 'to Figure 2, each of the grids 14 is formed from a series of horizontal slats shown at 19 and a series of verticalslats shown at 20. The terms horizontal and vertical are employed to indicate that the former (horizontal) slats run crossways of the door and the latter (vertical) slats run lengthwise of the door; i.e., they are horizontal and vertical, respectively, when the door has been hung. The 'slats 19 .and 20 are notched at uniformly spaced intervals -at 21. The spacing of the notches and their depths are such that the two sets of slats can be meshed together in' the manner illustrated in Figure 2, to provide a grid having upper and lower surfaces (as viewed in Figures 1 and 2) lying in horizontal planes (i.e., in vertical planes when the 'door has'been hung) to which the plywood facings 18 maybe glued. The latter, of course, are also glued to the framework 11. g 7

Referring now to Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, the machine of the present invention is there shown and [is generally designated by the reference numeral 30. It comprises two similar (but not identical) units 31 and 32. The unit 31 is intended for assembling the vertical "slats'20 and the unit 32 is intended for assembling the horizontal slats 19 and for meshing the two sets of slats to form'a grid such as that shown at 14 in Figures 1 and'2. I I g The vertical unit 31 comprises a magazine 33 having plates 34 which are arranged in pairs. The plates of 60 each pair are spaced apart to provide a chute 3'5 for holding a supply of slats 20. There are 'asmany chutes 35 as there are vertical slats in a grid. End plates are provided at 36 for each chute 35, 'and beneath each there is provided a plate 37, such plate'being bent to the shape illustrated. The plates 37 provide a downwardly converging guideway 38 for each stack of slats, to guide the slats, as they are fed from the chutes 35. The manner in which the slats 20 are fed from the chutes 35 will now be described.

The plates 37 also provide a base 39 beneath each chute 35 which forms a bottom support for the stack of slats in the chute. It will be seenthat the lower'ed'ge of each of the chutes 35 is spaced above the base 39 a distance greater than the thickness of a single slat but less than the thickness of two slats. It will, therefore, be apparent that the slats can be pushed off of the bases 39, one at a time by an appropriate feed mechanism.

Such feed mechanism is provided in the form of feed bars 40 which extend transversely of the machine and are slideable on frame members 41. Appropriate movement of the feed bars 40, including a forward stroke to feed slats into the guideways 38 and a rearward stroke to return to initial starting position, is provided by means including a shaft 45 journaled in a bearing 45a, a lever 46 and a link 47. The shaft 45 is operated by a cylinder 48, rod 49 and lever 50 (see Figure 3).

The slats 20 are pushed from their supports 39 into the guideways 38 and are guided between the jaws of clamps 51 and onto gauging rods 52 which extend longitudinally of the unit 31 and transversely of the slats 20. It will be apparent that the slats 20 will not only be guided by the guideways 38 but, by reason of the taper of these guideways, they will be rotated from the flat position shown in the chute 35 to the edgewise position shown in the case of slats illustrated in Figure 6 which are resting upon the gauging rods 52. Each of the clamps 51 comprises opposing jaws 51a and 51b. Each movable jaw 51a is hinged to the fixed jaw 51b at 53 and each fixed jaw 51b is fixed rigidly to the inner carriage 75 by brackets 54.

The clamps 51 are operated by means of a rod 55 which extends slideably through all of the jaws 51a and 51b, such rod being shown in both Figures 4 and 5. Collars 60 are fixed to the rod 55 at positions between the jaws 51a and 51b of each clamp 51. Hence, it will be apparent that, if the rod 55 is moved to the left as viewed in Figure 6, it will open the clamps 51. Opposing such opening movement are short lengths of expansion spring 61 compressed between washers 62 and collars 63. The collars 63 are pinned to the rod 55, and the washers 62 bear against the movable jaws 51a of the clamps 51. Also provided is an expansion spring 64 which is mounted on the right-hand end of the rod 55, as viewed in Figure 5, and is compressed between a washer 65 and a knob 66 at the extreme outer or right-hand end of the rod 55. The knob 66 bears against a lever 67 which is hinged at 68. Expansion springs 69 are provided which are compressed between the lever 67 and the frame of the machine so as to urge the rod 55 to the left, as viewed in Figures 4 and 6.

As is best shown in Figure 6, the clamps 51 are located within and supported by an inner carriage 75, which in turn is located within and supported by an outer carriage 76 by means of parallel links 77 rotatably connected at 78 to the inner carriage 75 and at 79 to levers 80 which are carried by shafts 81 journaled in bearings 82 which are fixed to the outer carriage 76. A cylinder 83 is provided which is rotatably connected to the outer carriage 76 at 84 and which has a rod 85 which is connected at its outer orright-hand end, as viewed in Figure 6, to a lever 86 which, in turn, is fixed to one of the shafts 81. A link 87 and levers 88 serve to connect the two shafts 81. It will, therefore, be apparent that the cylinder 83 is capable of raising and lowering the inner carriage 75 within the outer carriage 76.

The outer carriage 76 is provided with rollers 89 (see Figure 4) which roll on the frame of the machine. Corresponding shifting movement is imparted to the outer carriage by a cylinder 90, a rod 90a and a connecting link 91 (see Figure 6). Adjustable lateral guides (not shown) may also be provided for the carriage 76.

In operation, and apart from the unit 32 and from the control system, the machine as thus far described operates as follows: The magazine 33 is filled with an adequate supply of slats 20. The components of the machine are in the positions illustrated in Figure 6 at the commencement of the cycle of operation. That is, the feed bars 40 are retracted, the jaws of the clamps 51 are open, the inner carriage 75 is in its up position, and

the outer carriage 76 is in the retracted position illustrated wherein the clamps 51 are located in registry with the guideways 38. The feed bars 40 are moved forwardly, or to the left as viewed in Figure 6, to feed a single slat 20 into each of the guideways 38. As explained above, the tapered configuration of the guideways 38 is such that the detached slats are rotated and drop edgewise between the jaws of the clamps 51 until they come to rest on the gauging rods 52. The cylinder 90 is then operated to move the outer carriage 76 from right to left as viewed in Figure 6. As the carriage 76 moves from the position illustrated in Figure 6. the pressure exerted by the lever 67 and springs 69 will, of course, be relieved and the spring 64 will operate to move the rod 55, relatively to the inner carriage 75, from left to right as viewed in Figure 6. This movement of the rod 55 will close the movable jaws 51a tightly against the slats, thereby clamping the vertical slats 20 in proper position. The individual springs 61 allow for differences in slat thickness.

As will be seen from an inspection of Figure 4, the slats 20 are not dropped into the clamps 51 with their slots 21 in precise alignment. It is essential, before the grid is finally assembled in the unit 32, that the slots 21 be brought into precise alignment. This operation is accomplished in the following manner: Referring to Figure 4, gauging members 92 are provided which are fixed to a side wall of the inner carriage 75 in registry with the clamps 51. Along the opposite side of the carriage 75 there is provided a slide rod 93 which is slideable in bushings 94 fixed to the carriage 75. A tension spring 95 is provided which is pinned at to the carriage 75 and at 101 to the rod 93 so as to urge the rod 93 from left to right, as viewed in Figure 4. Fixed to the rod 93 are leaf springs 102 which are held slightly to the left of and out of contact with the clamps 51 by the means shown in Figures 4 and 5. A bracket 103 is hinged at 103a on the frame of the machine and is pivoted by a solenoid 205. A screw 104 is provided to determine the down position of the bracket 103. When in the down position, the bracket 103 holds the rod 93 in the position shown in Figure 4, with the leaf springs 102 clear of the slats 20.

It will be apparent that when the solenoid 205 is operated to pivot the bracket 103 upwardly, the spring 95 will retract the rod 93, i.e., move it from left to right. As a result, the leaf springs 102 will sweep the adjacent ends of the slats 20, thereby forcing and holding each of the slats firmly against its respective gauge member 92. By this means the slots 21 are brought into precise alignment.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 3, 7 and 8, the unit 32 is there illustrated, the purpose of which, as explained above, is to assemble the horizontal slats 19 and to unite them with the previously assembled ver tical slats 20. The unit 32 comprises a magazine formed by spaced pairs of plates 111, each pair providing a vertical chute 112 to contain and permit downward gravity feed of horizontal slats 19. Tapered guideways 113 are provided which are formed by plates 114 and springs 115 which converge downwardly so that, as the slats are fed into the guides, they will rotate the slats 90 to edgewise position. More particularly, the guideways 113 have a wide upper section 121, a narrow midsection 122 and a still narrower bottom section 123. The upper horizontal portion of each of the plates 114 provides a base 116 for supporting the stack of slats 19 in its respective chute 112. Feed bars 117 are provided which are reciprocated by the means shown in Figure 7 including a cylinder 118, its rod 119, a lever 120, a shaft 124, a lever and a link 126.

It will be apparent that, as the feed bars 117 are moved from right to left as viewed in Figure 8, they will push the lower slats 19 from the chutes 112 into the respective guides 113. Gauge members 125 are provided (see Figure 10) which align the horizontal slats 19 with the c e ses vertical slats 20 which, meanwhile,areheld' by the clamps 51 with the notches 2.1 in their upper edges in registry with the notches 211 in the horizontal slats 19. However, it will be apparent that a means is required to apply pressure to the horizontal slats 19 to mesh the two sets of slats together.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 8, a rectangular press frame 128 is provided having cross members 12 9 on which buttons 130 are mounted. The frame 128 is suspended and operated by the means illustrated in Figure 7. Referring to Figure 7, a press operating cylinder 131 is provided which is pivoted on the frame of the machine and which has a rod 132. connected to a lever 133 which is fixed to a shaft 134 which is journaled in the frame of the machine. Also fixed to the shaft 134 is another lever 135 which is connected by a link 136 to the frame 128. A similar mechanical linkage is provided at the opposite end of the frame 128, which is operated by the cylinder 131 through the medium of a lever 137 and rod 138. The frame 128 is guided in its movement by a cam follower roller 139 and a cam track 14% having an upper diagonal section 140a and a lower vertical section 14%.

In operation and apart from the control system, the unit 32 operates as follows:

Chutes 112 are kept filled with a sufiicient supply of horizontal slats 19. At the end of the forward stroke of the carriages 75 and 76, as described above, the vertical slats 2d are held in the proper position with their notches 2 1 in registry with the guideways 113-. The inner carriage 75 will be in its up position. The cylinder 118 is operated to actuate the feed bars 117, thereby supplying one horizontal slat 19* to each of the guideways 113. The slats will be rotated 90 as explained above so as to lie on edge. As explained-their notches 21 will be in registry with the notches 21 in the vertical slats 20. The cylinder 13 1 is operated to cause the frame 128- to move downwardly. Referring to Figure 7, it will be seen that the cam follower roller 139 riding in the cam track 14%, will impart to the frame 128 an increment of downward, diagonal movement and then an increment of downward vertical movement (see Figures 7 and 8). The buttons 13ft will bear downwardly on the horizontal stats 19 and will mesh them with the vertical slats 219 by reason of the notches 2 1. The cylinder 131 then reverses to raise the frame 128 and with it the buttons 13 0. Then the cylinder 83 (see Figure 6) operates to lower the inner carriage 7'5. The assembled grid 14 is released from the clamps 51 by reason of retraction of the clamps below the level of the gauge rods 52.

Referring now to Figure 12, a mechanism is there shown which is employed to eject each finished grid 14. 'i he mechanism is generally designated by the reference number 145 and it comprises a push bar 146 guided by bars 147 and operated by a cylinder 148 and its rod 14.9.

Referring now to Figure 11, which is a side elevation of the stacking mechanism (generally indicated by the reference numeral 159), an ejector roll 151 is there shown which is constantly driven and which is located on the side of the machine 3t) (more specifically, on the side of the unit 32'.) opposite the ejector mechanism 14 5. Referring to Figure 7, the ejector mechanism is located on the left-hand side of the machine and the stacking mechanism is located on the right-hand side. A portion of each mechanism is shown in Figure 7.

The stacking mechanism comprises an elevator platform which is supported by posts 153 which are slideable in guides 15 Guides 152:: are provided, one of which is adjustable. The elevator 152 is operated by a cylinder 155, its rod 156, a lever 157 and a second lever having a slotted connection 159 with one of the posts 153. A balancing lever 158a is also provided; likewise links 16:? and a cross piece 161. Spring pressed holddown fingers 162 are also provided to hold the grid down on the roll 151. The roller 15-1 is driven by a motor 165, a transmissionand gear reducing unit 166and a 6 belt 167. Two saws 'are providedjone of which issh'o'wn at 168 andwhich is driven by a motor 169 and belt 170. The saws 163 out out two recesses 17 to receive the blocks 16 (see Figure 1).

Stack supports are provided at 171 which are hinged at 172 and are bent at their upper ends to provide horizontal stacking ledges 173 and vertical guards 174. The sup ports 171 are weighted to assume normally the positions shownrin which they rest upon stop members 175. A

stack of grids 14 is shown at 176 supported by the stack supports 171.

In operation, and apart from the control system, each assembled grid is ejected from the unit 3-2 of the machine 30 by the ejector mechanism and roller 151 onto the elevator platform 15 2. The saw (or saws) 168 out out a lock recess (or two recesses) 17. The cylinder then elevates the elevator platform 152.. The grid 14 on the platform pivots the stack supports 171 outwardly, but they then fall back beneath the grid when it clears them. The cylinder 155 then lowers the platform 152 and the grid is caught and held by the ledges 173 of the stack supports 171.

By this means the stack 176 is built up from the bottom. Grids are removed from the top of the stack from time to time as needed, or to prevent the stack from becoming too high. The grids may then be placed in frames 11 and run between glue applicator rolls (not shown). Then plywood facings 18 are applied and heat and pressure are applied as needed to produce a good bond.

Referring now to Figure 15, the control circuit of the machine is there shown. Certain parts of the circuit are also shown in the mechanical figures, to which reference will be made from time to time.

The machine is assumed to be in the position illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 6. That is with reference to the vertical slat unit 31, the feed bars 41} (Figure 6) are in retracted position, a vertical slat 20 is in position on each of the supports 39, the outer carriage 76 is in retracted position, the inner carriage 75 is in up position and the jaws 51a and 51b of the clamps 51 are open.

Referring to Figure 15, current is supplied through a lead to a switch 19 1 which is in closed position, thence through a lead 192 to a switch 193' which is in the position shown, hence supplies current to a lead 194, thence to solenoid A of a valve 195. The valve 195 is, therefore, placed in a position to supply hydraulic pressure to one end of the cylinder 48 (see Figure 3). The switch 191is shown in Figure 4 and the switch 193 is shown in Figure 6. The cylinder 48 operates to cause the feed bars 40 to undergo their forward or feed stroke. These bars and the means connecting them with the cylinder 42' are shown in Figures 3 and 6. The bottom slats are pushed into the guideways 38 and are fed to the clamps 5-1 as described hereinabove.

A switch 195 is provided which is normally closed but which is opened at about 80% of the forward stroke of the feed bars 40. The switch 196 is shown in Figure 3 and it will be seen that it is opened by a roller 197, which rotates as the feed bars 41) move. At the end of the forward stroke of feed bars 40, the switch 193 is shifted by one of two pins 19341 which rotate with the shaft 45 i (see Figure 6). The switch 193: then connects lead192 with a lead 198 which is connected to the switch 196. The switch 193 also connects with a lead 199 which is connected with the solenoid B of valve 195. The latter connection energizes the solenoid B and shifts valve 195 in such manner as to reverse the operation of cylinder 4%, hence to cause the return stroke of feed bars 40. At about 20% of the return stroke of the feed bars 40, the roller 197 (see Figure 3) releases the switch 196, which therefore returns to its closed position, hence supplies current to a lead 204),thence to a solenoid 205, which is shown in Figure 5 and which, when energized, lifts the bracket 103 and releases the rod 93 whose spring 95shifts it to the right as viewed in Figure 4, thereby aligning the slots 21 in slats 20, as explained hereinabove.

Switch 196 also supplies current to a lead 206, thence to solenoid A of a valve 207, thereby placing that valve in position to supply hydraulic pressure to the carriage cylinder 90 (see Figure 6) to effect the forward stroke of the carriage 76. As explained hereinabove, this forward movement releases the rod 55 (see Figures 4 and 6), hence causes the clamps 51 to close and to grip the slats 20 firmly. It will be apparent that the release of switch 196 energizes the solenoid 205 and actuates valve 207. The lag of the valve 207 and carriage cylinder 90 is such that the solenoid 205 is energized and the slats 20 are aligned before forward movement of the carriage 76 commences.

As stated, the switch 196 is kept open during the first 20% of the return stroke of feed bars 40. The purpose of this dwell is to allow time for the slats 20 to drop into the clamps 51 and onto the rods 52 (see Figure 6).

Near the end of the forward stroke of the carriage 76, switches 20S and 209 are shifted from the positions shown in Figure 15 to their other positions. Switch 209 is merely set for a subsequent stage of the cycle of operation. Switch 208 passes current from power lead 190 to a lead 210, thence to solenoid A of a. valve 211.

Switch 208 is shown in Figure 12 and its actuator is shown to be a cam 215 fixed to the carriage 76 and a roller and arm 216. As will be seen, the switch 208 is a two position switch. The cam 215 is also shown in Figure 4.

Switch 209 is also shown in Figure 12 and in Figure 14. It is a switch whose operation is somewhat more complex than that of switch 208. The switch 209 is mounted on the frame of the grid ejector 145. It has an actuator arm 217 whose roller 218 is received in a notch 219 formed in a slide 220 which is normally held in the retracted position shown by a spring 221. The same cam 215 which sweeps roller 216 of switch 208 also sweeps the tapered end of an arm 222 which, through a universal joint 223 operates a lever 224 which engages a pin 225 projecting from the slide 220.

It will be apparent that, near the end of the forward stroke of the carriage 76, the switch 209 will be placed in one position, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter.

The switch 209 is also provided with a trip mechanism including a pin 226 projecting from one of the slide bars 147 which is engageable with a bracket 227 fixed to one end of a shaft 228 to the other end of which is fixed a rocker member 229. It will be apparent that, during the forward stroke of the ejector mechanism, the rocker member will rotate away from the lever 224 but during the return stroke it will rock the lever 224- about its pivot 223a and will release the slide 220, hence will trip and reset the switch 209.

As stated, when switch 208 is actuated by cam 215 at the end of the forward stroke of carriage 76, it energizes solenoid A of valve 211. The valve 211 therefore supplies hydraulic pressure to the horizontal slat feed cylinder 118, which is shown in Figure 7. The horizontal slat feed bars 117 commence their forward or feed stroke to supply horizontal slats 19 to the assembled vertical slats 20.

A switch 230 is provided which is connected by a lead 231 and a switch 232 to the power lead 190. The switch 230 is shown in Figure 7 and the switch 232 is shown in Figure 3. This switch 230 is normally open and it is closed by an arm 233 which rotates with the shaft 124 which forms part of the mechanical connection between the cylinder 118 and the horizontal slat feed bars 117.

The switch 230 is closed at the end of the forward or feed stroke of bars 117, and it then passes current to a lead 234, thence to a time delay relay 235 which closes a switch 236 after a lapse of about one-half second.

The purpose of this time delay is to allow the horizontal.

slats 19 sufficient time to drop into place. Current then passes through a lead 237 to a switch 238, thence through a lead 239 to the solenoid A of a valve 240. The switch 238 is shown in Figure 7. It is a toggle switch capable of assuming either of two positions and is operated by a pin 245 which rotates with the shaft 134 which forms a part of the mechanical connection between the press operating cylinder 131 and the press frame 128. When the press frame is in the up position, illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the switch 238 is in the position shown in Figure 15.

The energizing of solenoid A of valve 240 in the manner described places that valve in position to supply hydraulic pressure to the press operating cylinder 131 to cause the press frame 128 to descend. Accordingly, the horizontal slats 19 are meshed with the vertical slats 20 and a grid 14 is formed as described hereinabove.

At the bottom of the press stroke, the switch 238 is reversed by the pin 245. Hence, current is supplied through a lead 246 to the solenoid B of valve 240, which reverses that valve and the cylinder 131, hence lifts thc press frame 128. While switch 238 is in this position it also passes current through lead 246 and a lead 247 to solenoid A of a valve 248, thereby placing that valve in position to supply hydraulic pressure to the cylinder 83 (see Figure 6) which raises and lowers the inner carriage 75. The cylinder 83 is operated to lower the inner earriage 75, hence to strip the completed grid 14 from the clamps 51, as described hereinabove.

The switch 232 mentioned hereinabove is shifted to its other position when the inner carriage is down. The switch 232 is also shown in Figure 3 in which its actuator 249 is also shown.

When the switch 232 is shifted to its other position it opens the circuit to suu'tch 230 and closes the circuit to switch 209. When the press frame 128 reaches the top of its upstroke it shifts the switch 238 but, due to the position of the switch 232, this branch of the circuit remains open.

Current passes from switch 232 to a lead 250, thence through switch 209 (which has been appropriately set as described above) and a lead 255 to a switch 256. The switch 256 is shown in Figure 12. It is a toggle switch which is fixed to the frame of the grid ejector mechanism and is operated by pins 257 and 257a projecting from one of the guide rods 147 of the ejector mehcanism. When the push bar 146 is retracted the switch 256 is in the position shown in Figure 15, hence passes current to a lead 258 thence to solenoid A of a valve 259. This places the valve 259 in position to supply hydraulic pressure to the grid ejector cylinder 148 to cause the ejector to commence its forward stroke, thereby ejecting a grid 14. As the push bar 146 reaches the end of its forward stroke, the pin 257 reverses the switch 256 which then passes current to a lead 260, thence to solenoid B of valve 259 and causes a reversal of cylinder 148 and the return stroke of the ejector mechanism 145. At the end of the return stroke the pin 257a resets the switch 256.

During the return stroke of the ejector mechanism 145, the pin 226 (see Figure 12) releases the slide 220, hence trips and resets the switch 209. The switch 209 will pass current to a switch 261. The switch 261 is shown in Figure 11 attached to the frame of the stacking mechanism 150. It is a normally open switch which is closed by a grid 14 through the medium of a pivoted actuator 262 when such grid is deposited onto the elevator platform 152.

Switch 261 passes current through a lead 263 to solonoid B of valve 207 and through leads 263 and 264 to solenoid B of valve 248. Consequent resetting of the valve 207 reverses the carriage shifting cylinder 90, hence retracts the outer carriage 76. Resetting of the valve 248 reverses the cylinder 83 which operates the inner carriage 75, hence lifts that carriage to its up position.

Retraction of the outer carriage 76 reverses the switch 208 (see Figure 12) which then passes current through a apanese .9 'lead'270 to solenoid B of valve 211. This reverses the cylinder 11-8 (see Figure 7) which therefore retracts the feed ba'rs'117 (see Figure 8). At the same time the valve 211 supplies hydraulic pressure to the stacker cylinder 155 (see Figure 11) to lift the elevator platform 152 and to place another grid at the bottom of the stack 176. It will be apparent that the stacker cylinder 155 is reversed and the elevator platform 152 is lowered during the next cycle of operation when the outer carriage 76 reaches the end of its forward stroke.

A cycle is completed when the outer carriage 76 is completely retracted. Referring to Figure 4, the switch 191 is there shown. It has an actuator arm and roller 271 and is actuated by a cam Z712 fixed to the outer carriage 76. When the latter is completely retracted, the switch 191 is closed and a new cycle commences.

It will, therefore, be apparent that a machine has been provided which is'capable of carrying out automatically a cycle of operations in which a first set of slats is arranged in parallelism and is-squared ofi to align uniform notches formed therein; a second set are similarly arranged and squared oil? but transversely to the fisrt set; and the two sets of slots are united to form a grid. In addition this machine automatically ejects assembled grids, saws out lock block recesses and stacks the grids.

The machine is capable of wider applications than the assembling of grids and arrays of slats in a uniform rectangular pattern. Thus, by appropriate modification, it can assemble slats or other grid or lattice elements in triangular, circular, oval or other shapes. The machine as illustrated is adapted to assemble grids for doors of Widely varying width. Thus, the horizontal slat unit 32 is adjustable for slats 19 of ditferent lengths, hence it is adjustable for doors of different widths. This feature is advantageous because, although doors differ relatively little in height (hence relatively little variation of vertical slats 20 is required), they difier greatly in width.

I claim:

1. A grid assembling machine comprising first and second units for assembling first and second sets, respectively, of slotted slats or the like, said sets being assembled with the slats of each set parallel to one another and transverse to the slats of the other set and with the slats arranged edgewise; said first unit comprising a magazine including as many individual slat chutes as there are slats in the first set, slat feed means for separating the bottommost slat in each chute, a guide passage for turning each separated slat to edgewise position, levelling means for holding the separated, edgewise slats in parallel array and with their upper edges in the same plane and squaring means for squaring the array of slats; said second unit comprising a like magazine, slat feed means, guide passages, levelling means and squaring means, said second unit serving to arrange the second set of slats transversely to the first set and also comprising a press for pressing the two sets of slats together; said machine also comprising shifting means for shifting the assembled first set into transverse registry with the second set; said machine also comprising a control circuit and operating mechanism for imparting to the machine a cycle of operation wherein a first set of slats is separated and arranged in edgewise, parallel, array and is squared and levelled by the first unit, a second set of slats is similarly separated, squared and levelled by the second unit, the shifting means operates to shift the assembled first set, the press operates to unite the two sets and the machine returns to its starting position.

2. A slat assembling machine of the character described which comprises a magazine having a plurality of upright chutes for holding a like number of upright columns of slats with the slats in each column stacked upon one another in parallel fiat position; a like number of guideways for receiving slats separated from the bottoms of the chutes and turning the slats to edgewise, parallel position; slat feed means for separating the bottommost slats in said chutes anddelivringtlie s'eparafed slits' to saidguideways, levellirtgmeans for holding the separated, edgewise' slats in level position with their'edg'es-in horizontal planes; a clamp for each guideway including a movable jaw which is capable of moving between open and closed positions for receiving and clamping edgewise slats, respectively; shifting means for shifting a set of slats in edgewise, parallel, levelled array between a first position in registrywith said chutes and a second position; and means for operating-said movable jaws and actuated by said shifting means to open the clamps in said first position and to close them when the slats are shifted to said second position.

3. Slat holding apparatus of the character described comprising a first carriage supported for linear movement between first and second positions, a second carriage supported by the first carriage for movement with said first carriage and also for movement between up and down positions relatively tothe first carriage, a plurality of clamps supported by said second carriage and each comprising a movable jaw moving between open and closed positions to receive and to clamp, respectively, slats or the like in parallel edgewise position, means for operating said apparatus operable to hold the movable jaws in open position when the first carriage is in its first position and to move them to closed position when the first carriage is moved to its second position, and levelling means fixedly secured to said first carriage for supporting slats in said clamps with their upper edges in the same plane, said levelling means serving also to strip the slats from the clamps when the second carriage is moved from its up to its down position.

4. A grid assembling machine of the character described comprising a first unit for assembling a first set of notched slats in edgewise, parallel array and a second unit for similarly assembling a second set of notched slats in edgewise, parallel array but transversely to said first set and for pressing two sets together to unite and intermesh them; said first unit comprising supply means including a plurality of slat chutes, a bottom support for each chute, a reciprocable feed bar for each chute, a guide passage beneath each chute for guiding and turning each slat to edgewise position, levelling and squaring means for levelling the edges of the slats in the array and for squaring the array, and clamping means for clamping the slats in parallel, levelled, squared array; shifting means for shifting the first set of slats to said second unit; like means in said second unit for similarly assembling a second set of slats in parallel, levelled, edgewise array but transversely to said first set, press means for uniting the first and second sets, release means for releasing said clamps and ejector means for ejecting an assembled grid; said machine also comprising operating and control means for imparting to the machine an automatic cycle of operation wherein a first set of slats is separated from said chutes and delivered to said guide passages, the array of slats in the first unit is levelled and squared, the clamping means are operated to clamp the levelled, squared array, the shifting means is operated to shift the squared, levelled array of the first set of slats to said second unit, the second unit is similarly operated to arrange a second set of slats in parallel, squared, levelled array transversely to the first set, said press means is operated to apply pressure to the set of slats to interrnesh and unite them and form a grid, said release means is operated to release said clamps and said ejector means is operated to eject the assembled grid and said shifting means is operated to return the first unit to its initial position in condition for receiving the next set of slats.

5. A machine of the character described for auto matically assembling uniform slats in sets; each said slat being rectangular in cross section and having a pair of relatively wide parallel faces and a pair of relatively narrow parallel edges, the length of each slat being large compared to its Width; each said set comprising a plurality of slats arranged in parallel array with their edges in parallel planes forming the two faces of the set; said machine comprising a magazine having a plurality of slat chutes equal in number to the number of slats in a set, said chutes being arranged side-by-side and in parallelism, each chute having a width approximating the width of said slats, said chutes being arranged to hold stacks of slats with the slats in each stack in face-to-face relation with the stacks side-by-side and parallel to one another; means for automatically and simultaneously separating the bottom slats of said stacks; slat passage means for automatically turning each separated slat to edgewise position; and slat arranging means comprising slat levelling means providing bottom support for a set of separated, turned, edgewise-oriented slats and serving also to level the set of slats, and means for squaring the set of levelled slats.

6. The machine of claim 5, including also clamp means for automatically clamping a set of slats after they have been arranged in level, squared array, said clamp means serving to maintain a set of slats in level, squared array.

7. A machine for automatically assembling slats in sets having a predetermined array, having the shape of a regular polygon and with the edges of the slats forming the two faces of the polygon and with the faces of the individual slats parallel to one another, said machine comprising a slat magazine for holding the slats in substantially the same array as the intended polygon but with the slats in flat, face-to-face position rather than in edgewise position, said magazine comprising a plurality of substantially vertical, parallel slat chutes equal in number to the slats in a set, said chutes having widths approximating the widths of the slats and being adapted to hold stacks of slats in face-to-face relation; means for automatically and simultaneously disengaging the hottom slats from said chutes; turning means for turning each set of disengaged slats about their longitudinal axes to arrange the slats in edgewise position; slat levelling means comprising members for contacting the lower edge of the slats in a set and for levelling the sets, automatic end contacting means for contacting the ends of the levelled, edgewise slats of a set to arrange the slats in the intended regular, polygonal array, and automatic clamping means adapted to clamp the slats in their levelled, regular polygonal array; and automatic shifting means for separating each levelled, arrayed set of slats from the machine.

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